- Author
- Thomson, Max
- Subjects
- WWII operations, Naval Intelligence
- Tags
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- June 1987 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Labuan, Borneo – ‘Tokyo Rose’ Threat:
Allied warships at the next Borneo invasion, at Labuan, did not take lightly Radio Japan’s broadcast by ‘Tokyo Rose’ that the invasion force would be devastated by bombers of the Japanese Air Force operating out of Singapore. Closed up at action stations all night, with the ships steaming slowly about, orders were to lay a heavy smoke screen over the whole invasion area should the threat of enemy attack eventuate.
Philippine Typhoons:
In Leyte Gulf and other Philippine bases, warships all but gave top priority to the TYPHOON WARNINGS that came to them along with all the detailed instructions for action in the event of enemy surface or air attack. Knowing the intensity of Philippine typhoons, warship commanders prepared well their plans even to the extent of taking their ships into open water to ride out typhoons should it become necessary.
The Sydney Harbour ‘Glide’
Even Sydney was not without its unique instructions to shipping. After the Japanese midget submarine attack in 1942, ships approaching the Boom Gate were obliged to STOP ENGINES AND GLIDE THROUGH THE BOOM ENTRANCE as silently as possible. All so that detection equipment could ensure no enemy midget sub-marine was trailing astern using the ship’s propeller noise to muffle its own, as they penetrated the heavy steel net into the inner harbour.